February 24 - Johann Baptist Cramer; Charles Frederick Horn (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 24th are here: Arnold Dolmetsch (2020), Arrigo Boito (2021), Samuel Wesley (2022), Michel Legrand (2023), and Luigi Denza (2024)

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Johann Baptist Cramer (24 February 1771 – 16 April 1858) was an English pianist, composer and music publisher of German origin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Praise

Beethoven considered him the finest pianist of the day from the standpoint of pure technical perfection.  – Wikipedia

Though Beethoven was known to speak,

Of Cramer's fabulous technique,

I'd have to guess that his critique

Of Cramer's works was more oblique.

 

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Charles Frederick Horn (24 February 1762 – 3 August 1830) was an English musician and composer, and music tutor to various members of the royal family of George III, including Queen Charlotte.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Horning In

I seldom greet the dawning morn

By thinking of Charles Frederick Horn,

But on this day when he was born

All prejudice should be foresworn —

Away with doubts! Away with scorn! —

And may the sounding brass adorn

This festival of C. F. Horn!

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February 23 - John Blow; George Frideric Handel (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 23rd are here: George Frideric Handel (2020), John Blow; George Frideric Handel (2021), Handel (2022), (2023), (2024), (2025)

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George Frideric Handel (23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was one of the greatest, and still most popular, of Baroque composers.

John Blow (bapt. 23 February 1649 – 1 October 1708) was a significant English composer and organist. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two In One

By the strange machinations of Fate

Both Handel and Blow share this date,

A thing that is nifty

For Brits who are thrifty,

Since it saves on the china and plate.

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Blow by Blow

Venus and Adonis is considered by some to be either a semi-opera or a masque. -- Wikipedia

Five lines aren't enough for the task,

If you should be tempted to ask

If the musical show

By composer John Blow

Was an opera or merely a masque.

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Two Handelian Limericks Sharing an Opening

(1) Attention Span

Messiah enjoys popularity

And thus it is never a rarity,

But will sheer repetition 

As a yearly tradition

Fatigue an impatient posterity.

(2) The Rest of the Story

Messiah enjoys popularity

In spite of the earnest severity

Of parts two and three,

Which for some tend to be

A trial of sacred austerity.

 

 

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February 22 - Marni Nixon; Joachim Nicolas Eggert (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 22nd are here:  Marni Nixon (2020), Johann Ambrosius Bach; Johann Nikolaus Forkel (2021), Niels Gade; Nacio Herb Brown (2022), Jan August Vitásek (2023), Johann Ambrosius Bach (2024), and Jadwiga Szajna-Lewandowska (2025)

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Marni Nixon (22 February 1930 – 24 July 2016) was an American soprano best known for dubbing the vocal parts in important movie musicals.  She also had success singing contemporary classical music. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Always a Bridesmaid

Marni Nixon wasn't seen,

Although her voice came from the screen.

She sang the need vocal part,

Which synched with engineering art,

Provided voices not their own

For actresses much better known.

 

 

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Joachim Nicolas Eggert (22 February 1779 – 14 April 1813) was a Swedish composer and musical director. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claim to Fame

 

On 14 May 1807, Eggert's 3rd symphony was performed. This places it a year prior the premiere of Beethoven's 5th which makes Eggert's 3rd symphony one of the earliest symphonies to include trombone throughout.  -- adapted from Wikipedia 

Joachim Nicolas Eggert was a Swede

   And though he's not well known,

His grand symphonic writing took the lead

   In using the trombone.

 

 

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February 21 - Stefano Donaudy (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 21 are here: Charlotte Church (2020), Nina Simone; Charles-Marie Widor (2021), and (2022), Léo Delibes; Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda (2023). Léo Delibes; Stefano Donaudy (2024), and Charles-Marie Widor (2025)

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Stefano Donaudy (21 February 1879 – 30 May 1925) was an Italian composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Past and Present 

Consider the case of Donaudy,

Who took up his pencil and vowed he

Would write his songs cast

In a style from the past... ---

And they're charming, if just touch dowdy.

 

 

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